New overactive-bladder medication blamed for dry eyes

By Joe and Teresa Graedon

September 20, 2015

Q: I have overactive bladder. My doctor prescribed a new drug called Myrbetriq (mirabegron). Instead of being an anticholinergic drug like most other bladder medicines, it works through beta receptors. It worked well for about a year, when I realized I had terribly dry eyes. I think it slowly damaged the lacrimal glands that produce tears.

I stopped taking Myrbetriq on Sept. 18, 2014, and I am still waiting for my lacrimal glands to rejuvenate. I have advised the Food and Drug Administration and the Astellas Pharma drug company about this reaction but got no response from them.

A: Anticholinergic drugs for overactive bladder such as tolterodine (Detrol) and oxybutynin (Ditropan XL) are known to cause dry eyes. Your doctor might not have expected Myrbetriq to have this effect because it has a different mode of action. Dry eyes are not a common side effect of Myrbetriq, but some people in one study dropped out because of it. Myrbetriq also has been linked to a higher risk of glaucoma.

Q: I have met the perfect man, and we are compatible in every way except for sex. He is currently on anti-anxiety medication, and he attributes his low sex drive to its side effects.

I still can't help but feel rejected when we are ready but his penis goes soft. When we discussed this, we figured it would just take time for the effects of the medicine to wear off. Nothing has changed since our conversation, however.

A: Your partner is right that a benzodiazepine medication such as alprazolam (Xanax), frequently used to treat anxiety, can put a damper on libido and interfere with sexual function. Getting off such medications can be a challenge because of the danger of withdrawal symptoms if one stops abruptly. With support, he may be able to go off the medicine gradually and eventually regain his interest in sex. Counseling might help you recover your sense of desirability.

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